Readers' comments

On some level, it is unfortunate that state schools have implemented school uniforms. However, conversely, one cannot really blame the schools for this sort of profit driven policy.

The schools intentions are ethical, in that through uniforms, they seek to rid social divisions between their pupils, however the extent to which these exorbitant prices of uniforms reach is appalling.

This article has stated clearly & straightforwardly the problem; there is no objection from parents in the school's policies to administer uniforms, but rather with compelling parent's to purchase them from specific sources with stratospheric prices.

also very much worth a read is this report which argues that giving a school uniform increases the attendance of a child in school, however it also notes "uniforms are the single largest monetary outlay for school attendance"

May I suggest a solution to satisfy 'Edward', your readers, and by extension The Economist. Fire Edward. We will happily go about our lives oblivious to the trouble and strife of sending our offspring to a top school. And as for Edward - his summer angst over expensive school uniforms will be solved as his son can don the Asda attire of the state school proletariat.

In Mexican public school, well at least on Secondary school, all the cities uniforms were the same, the only differences were the school logos, and sometimes the pattern of the dress pants were different.

After I went from Secondary school in Mexico to High School in the USA, I definitely think that Uniforms are better.

It has always been a mystery to me how a particular satorial style changes what is inside the head of the individual. Could it be that school heirachies have been watching too many superman or wonder woman movies or episodes on TV. A sudden change of attire and you have superhuman powers.
I for one could not wait to get into jeans and casual clothes, when I went from grammar school to university. I never felt that a particular style of dress changed my academic ability or intellectual powers.
The thing that most helped me learn was the motivation to get on with my homework and take an interest in what I was studying. A lot of that was done outside school hours, at home, and in casual clothes.